Daytona 500 Predictions: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Will Finally Come Away with Rare Win

The Sprint Cup Series hasn't been too kind to Dale Earnhardt Jr. lately, but at this year's Daytona 500, he will finally walk away atop the rest of the field.

Earnhardt has looked solid thus far, and he should be taking his fifth spot on the starting pole with a boost in confidence to take the highly regarded race.

Earnhardt hasn't won a race since 2008, and has seen a dramatic fall in his top-five finishes since that year. In 2008, he had 10 within the top five, while since then he has only had nine. That is quite a drop-off, but Junior is coming into this race strong.

Junior has had good results at Daytona, but now he needs a win more than ever.

According to the Associated Press, Junior has adapted to the new racing styles that have taken NASCAR by storm, and some believe he is ready to take the race—including himself.

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"I do feel like I have a better shot at winning in this current style of racing,” Earnhardt said Wednesday. “I do feel more confident than I did coming down here and tandem drafting. I never felt really great about that. It is a completely different style of racing and it’s not what I enjoyed."

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One of the most important things Earnhardt needs heading into the race is confidence, as four straight years of struggling on the circuit could definitely take a toll on anyone.

It will remain to be seen how he will fare once he actually hits the track—but pending any car issues, it looks as if Earnhardt is finally in position to take the top position since his win in 2008, and his first at the Daytona 500 since 2004.

Fans would certainly be excited to see Earnhardt finally finish at the top spot, as it has been too long since one of racing's greats—as well as one of its most storied names—has taken the top spot in a Sprint Cup Series race.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.

Follow @Real_Jeff_Chase